The Budlong Hot Chicken: a Chicago-Area Favorite, Now Franchising

    Brand has developed a ‘cult-like’ following at its four locations.
    Sponsored Content | August 30, 2023
    The Budlong Hot Chicken interior
    The Budlong Hot Chicken
    “The Budlong blows the competition out of the water.”

    Nashville hot chicken has taken the country by storm. Soon, The Budlong Hot Chicken will be doing the same—the chef-driven concept originated in the Chicagoland area in 2016 and quickly became known as the area’s go-to spot for Nashville hot.

    Basing his recipes on those from famous Nashville establishments like Prince’s Hot Chicken and Hattie B’s, The Budlong Founder Jared Leonard developed an original menu that would capture authentic Southern flavor. The brand features a full menu of Nashville hot sandwiches that range from mild all the way up to “berserk!!!”, designed for only the bravest connoisseurs of spice.

    Diners can choose from several different versions of Nashville hot sandwiches, including the Southern Style, smothered in pimento cheese and pickles, or the Yo Momma’s, served with black-pepper pickle relish mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onion and Budlong pickles. Other menu items include Southern staples like buttermilk biscuits, creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, scratch-made farm slaw, popcorn chicken, and a Southern-style salad.

    The Budlong Hot Chicken

    LOCATIONS: 4

    FRANCHISE FEE: Single Unit - $30,000; additional units - $20,000 each; development fee - $10,000, credited to franchise fee.

    TOTAL START-UP COSTS: $178,000 to $989,500/store


    The Budlong caught the eye of Craveworthy Brands CEO Gregg Majewski when it first opened. He became a devoted follower of the brand and its mouth-watering menu items and eventually acquired it in 2021 after COVID-related restrictions put the brand in a tough position. Majewski’s goal was to scale the brand while keeping the authenticity that makes it so unique.

    “The Budlong Hot Chicken truly has a cult following in the city,” Majewski says. “Who doesn’t love fried chicken and Southern-style food? And The Budlong blows the competition out of the water.”

    Majewski says one thing that sets The Budlong’s food apart is the fact that the brand gives diners the option of selecting thighs for their hot chicken sandwich—a chef hack that creates differentiation in the saturated fried-chicken segment. “It’s more of a Southern fried chicken than it is a Nashville Hot Chicken,” Majewski says. “But you’ve got different flavor profiles and levels of spice in there to choose from. We’re going to own the Southern chicken segment because we’re differentiated from everyone else.”

    The brand is still in its initial stages of growth, with four locations open. Majewski sees a world where The Budlong Hot Chicken grows across the Midwest and all over the country thanks to its craveable, standout menu and its ease of operation. Like many Craveworthy Brands’ concepts, The Budlong Hot Chicken requires very little square footage or operational complexity. Franchisees can open locations for under $200,000 in some cases.

    “This is the perfect brand,” Majewski says. “This is truly the one to jump in on if you want to live the American Dream. The food is incredible, there’s so much room to grow, and the buildouts are right on the money in terms of price point.

    Learn more at franchise.thebudlong.com.

    By Charlie Pogacar